India Launches Mission Watershed Punarutthan in Nagaland to Rejuvenate Water and Land

Overview

• Union Minister of State Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar launched the State-Level Watershed Mahotsav 2025 and Mission Watershed Punarutthan at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima, calling water security national security.
• The mission focuses on reviving traditional water bodies, restoring degraded lands, and strengthening water-harvesting systems through community participation and convergence with MGNREGA.
• Citing PMKSY work in Nagaland, officials reported 14 approved watershed projects, Rs 140 crore sanctioned with Rs 80 crore released, renovation of 555 water-harvesting structures, restoration of 120 springs, and benefits to more than 6,500 farmers.
• The government framed the effort as building climate resilience in the North Eastern States in line with the Prime Minister’s development focus for the region.
• Officials noted India holds about 4% of global renewable freshwater despite 18% of the world’s population and highlighted reported outcomes in project areas including six-fold economic returns, a 70% rise in farmers’ income, a 40% increase in milk production, and a threefold rise in groundwater levels.